What gives?

Floss

jennystarpepper said:  

...Phone charged at work, naughty maybe but they are not paying extra for business cover for car insurance and pence per mile will not be and has not been increased in years so to quote princess Anne, they can naff 0ff. 

If your employer pays less than 45p/m check if you can claim the difference from HMRC:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/vehicles-you-use-for-work

maisie_cat

Interesting to see what others are doing, reading through is a handy checklist.
We have made many changes since we moved here 2 years ago, we immediately changed all the light bulbs and switched off the storage heaters. We already had clothes for layering due to camping/hiking so they have become a fairly constant in colder times.
Last year we replaced the ancient oil Rayburn (poor old thing) with a pellet boiler and it felt good when oil went up, now pellets have increased 50% not so much.
We've been keeping an eye on electricity use, hubby has a medical condition that means he showers more and we have more washing, but I've persuaded him to stop washing 2 items on a full load! We've also started washing the duvet covers and sheets together because they are so old now they'll be no colour run. The tumble dryer doesn't get much use anymore and we use the oven once a week maximum. I shower once every 36 hours or so unless I'm dirty from the garden, I'm a 1 minute showerer, unless I'm washing hair, which hasn't been cut for nearly 3 years.
We already grow veg, but I've cleared another area so we can do more and I've been preserving food for decades so have the equipment already.
As far as food is concerned we eat less meat and more pulses & veg, we already make bread and don't eat processed food or ready meals. We have a few months store so if we have a tight month we can avoid buying much food. We do drink wine and beer though and that is our fall back if things get incredibly tight, we can give up or make our own, again we have the kit.
We don't buy clothes often and tend to wear them to death, I actually have a lowe alpine T shirt I bought in 1997! footwear is the only other pricy thing we have needed to buy in recent years.
Things I will not give up are coffee beans, decent loose tea, real butter although I make it often, quality cat food
(for the cat) and olives.

mumf

We just had our weekly Tesco delivery. We both looked at each other after it was dropped off,and agreed that you don’t get much for £70. Thank heavens we keep a good store of food,pet food and hygiene/ cleaning products! Like everyone else,we are reducing our electricity use ( where practical) , we are changing our diet - more vegetables- as we grow some of those too. 

  Fortunately,we have wood burning stoves ,and I get a LOT of free wood. We are not poor,but neither are we rich, and without prudent living we would be in trouble.  Like everyone else.

otb666

We had set monthly budgets 600 food 600 bills 600 everything else and very surprised we are already hitting those budgets So are writing our spends on whiteboard to keep track as there is only a  saving 30000 pot to last forever. I too have not spent on hair make up shoes and clothes and acquired a pet due to DS error in purchase.  i have cut down on moonpig cards.  Finding the elderly relations are costing us a bit Small regular spends But they are hard to get money back from and just get more and more money in their bank.  I want to be in position to help my children if needs be Rather than our money be chipped away by rich elderly relatives So will be very precise with them when I am outta pocket and ask for money.  No matter how bad I feel about it.

Floss

Otb666, why not start to say "oh I haven't got any cash on me, can you give it to me before I go / transfer it so I can use my card?" Before she died in 2005 my mum would have a sort of petty cash account with me - she would give me £20 and I would tell when she had £5 left. I would give her the receipts every time I did any shopping & she would give me another £20 or so.

OrkneyStar

Floss said:

Otb666, why not start to say "oh I haven't got any cash on me, can you give it to me before I go / transfer it so I can use my card?" Before she died in 2005 my mum would have a sort of petty cash account with me - she would give me £20 and I would tell when she had £5 left. I would give her the receipts every time I did any shopping & she would give me another £20 or so.

I agree, little bits here and there soon add up, especially if they are doing better than you financially! Be strong.

Spendless

timehastoldme said:

The eyeliner has something iron in it, and the magnet in the lashes attach to the iron the eyeliner, so if they're not sticking, it might be worth seeing if the magnet in the lashes still works or if the eyeliner is the bit that needs replacing.

Thank you. I will have to re-check exactly what she's done to stop them working.

monnagran

Otb666, would you please put me in touch with your elderly relations?  I need some lessons in extracting money from the younger members of my family.  It seems to be the other way round in our family.

basketcase

@otb666

I don't suppose you could try asking to borrow from them?

monnagran

basketcase, BLOOD and STONE, come to mind.